World Cup and Test Cricket 2019

[DracoM]

Joe Root - a hopeless test captain!

I fear I agree.
BUT
Who would get the call if Root dropped out of the running as capt?
Stokes? I think not.
Buttler?
OR
drop Roy, import Morgan as bat /captain.

[muzzer]

I think the spectre of Morgan, particularly with the WC win, hangs over Root’s captaincy, which is poor and robotic, plus his batting has suffered. Morgan presents as a ruthless and strong leader. Plus Cook retired too soon (which I trace back to Strauss retiring too early, which I blame on Pietersen, so that’s a whole other thread tbf). Root needs to bat at 4, his best position, if Roy is kept then he drops down the order. No idea who opens. Faultlnes have erupted and there are no easy answers. But there’s a real sense of panic now, and it’s not good enough.

[DracoM]

Panic that dropped Vince and imported ROY - and what a good decision that was? Dropped catches at critical times, poor batting, surly sulking.

[burning dog]

Panic that dropped Vince and imported ROY - and what a good decision that was? Dropped catches at critical times, poor batting, surly sulking.

The Buttler/Bairstow/Foakes conundrum should have been addressed as well. At one time England selectors would certainly haved picked Morgan as captain but they seem to go by the Aussies technique of picking a captain from the team. However his average of 30 is better than Stoneman, Malan, Jennings, Vince, Roy, Lyth, Compton, Hales etc. etc.

[gradus]

247 lead as I write for Gawd's sake declare soon to end this misery.

[muzzer]

Buttler can play as a batsman. More so than others I think he can play across formats. Not in great nick now of course. The next captain......?

[Belgrove]

...The next captain......?

I'd advocate Stokes. He's committed, he can save and win a match, and he's respected by his team-mates. He has heart!
I've never understood the thinking that the captaincy should go to the 'best batsman'. It should go to the best tactician and inspirational player.
Parenthetically, why do the professional pundits always refer to a sides 'best player' as being its best batsman? To win a side needs to bowl out up to 20 batsmen. A good batsman sets up a win, but does not achieve it (and I'm not remarking as a bowler).

[gurnemanz]

I'd advocate Stokes. He's committed, he can save and win a match, and he's respected by his team-mates. He has heart!
I've never understood the thinking that the captaincy should go to the 'best batsman'. It should go to the best tactician and inspirational player.
Parenthetically, why do the professional pundits always refer to a sides 'best player' as being its best batsman? To win a side needs to bowl out up to 20 batsmen. A good batsman sets up a win, but does not achieve it (and I'm not remarking as a bowler).

They appointed Botham as captain and that didn't work out.

[DracoM]

Unlike one or two other years, there is no county captain in the Test mix either.
Which means that if the nominated Capt is losing his grip both in terms of his own chosen skill and the minutiae of on-field strategy, then he has nowhere else to go but the other non-capts round him. Eheu.
Lots of big voices maybe, but not necessarily big cricketing brains to go with that loudness of voice!

[antongould]

Unlike one or two other years, there is no county captain in the Test mix either.
Which means that if the nominated Capt is losing his grip both in terms of his own chosen skill and the minutiae of on-field strategy, then he has nowhere else to go but the other non-capts round him. Eheu.
Lots of big voices maybe, but not necessarily big cricketing brains to go with that loudness of voice!

Is Rory Burns not captain of one of the posh southern teams .... ?????

[jayne lee wilson]

What? WHAT?


So I leave the room for 5 minutes thinking, just don't lose an early wicket... ..to enjoy the sun, the garden and....
God! Come on!

Root are you the man for the hour?
Can Ben do a Botham-Headingley '81? Its not the despair I can't stand its the hope...etc....

More Iced Vodka and Any Answers for now...

[DracoM]

Woops, Burns - Surrey. Forgot.
But it's so far south of here..............etc etc.....

[Historian]

Well, at least of England's batsmen remembered that they were playing in a Test match today. Denly in particular rode his luck and should have secured his place a bit longer.

I don't mind getting beaten by a better team if my side have played well (not too much anyway), but I am used to England's performances being either feast or famine.

This piece by Georege Dobell helps explain why England's batting keeps failing in Test matches:

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27446421/jason-roy-woes-test-opener-epitomise-broken-system

EDIT: Jayne, iced vodka sounds a good antidote to the depression of spirits so often caused by watching England.

[jayne lee wilson]

Switched on after lunch again and.....whoa.....

Too hot outside anyway, right..... ? OH boy......can we all bear this....?

[jayne lee wilson]

Waving the bat at a wide ball like that? Oh, Johnny!

I think I better go quiet again....